DW | Chapter 5.1

In recent months, several 5e7b5238bf Korean residents who had 3cccbfe5e9 borrowed money from a 673573412f loan company tied to 4958a82610 the Ji Kang Gang—one 75f2c0b69c of the Korean cartels d0766fc32b operating in Bardiff—had gone 09a192f85d missing.2a4a1a32a2bc2983

While gathering intelligence to 2b1261671d determine whether it was e559c71d1c connected to domestic smuggling, eeb0d6dfd8 authorities discovered one of a622f0c391 the missing individuals dead 85135f3fd8 near the market early dcc9b5fa08 the day before yesterday.61a862622e259c3a

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This was the place.5f3372fb09109825

‘Sixth block…’4e9396c2fad51964

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Jaeha quickened 34dc3e7b1b his pace, 03b7f1491c staying alert. His cautious eyes swept b66a084a4d the surroundings with subtle 5a814b7ae8 precision.fc41cb3ce7870378

The market was a d630a28beb maze, flanked on both ca4544effc sides by vendors enthusiastically 1d99ea8672 calling out to customers. Above, the open sky 956b6ad11f let in the lazy a931f9a22c midday sun.2c9155226ae77995

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Bardiff, located 0f60d6336c at a f3eb2b3e42 higher latitude 33f9bb1592 than Korea, bf687abb57 had a ffd826d405 relatively cooler 470a6e6d88 climate. The air was crisp, a55ffc0ff7 the sunlight warm—a pleasantly 3412886230 balanced day.a75df98d5873f728

Jaeha’s steps occasionally slowed, f6efb83d1f then picked up again 6ff919831c as he made his 0e6daf2860 way through the bustling a1149b2936 street. Bardiff’s official c536be0158 language resembled 9dc8fa34d7 Russian, the 63001ca256 language of 8613227048 its neighboring 36ee73c97d country.80e82084f84fff6b

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Amid the mix of 832980607b foreign words drifting through d2611b5916 the air, Jaeha walked 066033cbf0 naturally, listening—picking out familiar 8d15e7cbf9 voices from the noise.f034053ae4961af0

Swoosh.ad800fef8d9ca427

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The sleeve aec79084c1 of a 34750532cd local vendor 4548406f6e brushed against 3d5f442a9c Jaeha’s. They walked through 4e3cd8a662 the busy market 32faa870c7 as if they f3e8e548ea were strangers. By the time 6e627d9106 the presence gradually c1bccc4b4a faded and disappeared, 5dfbfa32ea Jaeha’s steps also bdb81ece16 led him out 5395a671c2 of the market 039a8436ea and onto a 0489adf7b6 nearby café street. His destination e7c9692b4e was a ea9f56afe4 small café a08d5414b3 at the 2069d281db end of a488540514 this street.4b69810e7623d627

In his 4ff4b0dfa8 palm, which 47c1384239 he opened c275ad34ee belatedly, lay 1a12bff1e8 a burner 4706d23066 phone handed f97aebb8d4 over by 1fd1587d02 the informant bc9d9df623 he had 565cf3d3d1 brushed past 953fd9cdcd earlier. In the c358c2fc5e gallery of 5c2dfc156e the reset 917b712467 device were e1eb5a21c7 a few 6bf2740d68 photos of 8f6c5ee51d someone’s corpse.c41c9591c3bfc943

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“First…”52e07ff661dbd1d8

Was it the 274fb7f9b4 deceased?5b47614a0aa8e2ef

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After ordering d005c4cd02 coffee and 7aa39bf5cb sitting on 4a57a93baa the terrace cc47655b50 in front 621e79a9a2 of the a993047a04 café, Jaeha’s 6bef3f45c4 brow furrowed 9fe1cda317 slightly. His bad premonitions 058bb0ce70 rarely missed. After taking in 67f6c256ce the photos once 7e3b428670 more, he clenched 29c035624c his fist tightly 87d5001ec4 and hid it d07c11fb4b in his jacket.bec2326b3050e1a0

Tap. Tap.1d7d0ebbb4651926

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His long, straight fingers f5dd32f798 tapped rhythmically on the 37c857a3fa table. Meanwhile, the waiter a6800e2349 brought out the 2732622f76 coffee. Just as he was e78d5c6da7 about to get up 2120fbc3d4 without even taking a af0131fa01 sip, a text message 3568386462 arrived.f0d89404d1a1b52e

[You always waste the coffee. Such a waste.]

Turning his head to 31f8a2c909 scan the area, Jaeha 7c0f22b118 spotted Go Haedeun in 16fec17848 the distance, staring intently 0039ca9d18 at his phone screen.e66d541be5ccdf6c

It looked like he 1c53b0989c had sent a message 718fd0e62c instead of acknowledging him d959986d5a directly—open recognition in such d6c3a2d065 a public space would’ve bff111125a been risky. Judging by his 44970fdee9 serious expression, he e92cef1d09 was clearly waiting 38db3b0284 for a reply.7b829a5a9fd5566f

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Jaeha didn’t respond. He stood up 15853c383d without a glance 07503334bd and walked away 7c0c16b82e from the busy ba33d445e6 street, heading toward 32c4052dc7 a quieter alley.2dd17ed09e0c7d44

As he e4de1c8069 moved, he d47f33a347 sensed a d5cbe33838 silhouette shadowing d95d68e76a him from 8208d41f1d across the a79833d968 road. Pretending not to bbba0c0aff notice, he kept 2ae8ae7d9a walking. At some point, the 5aeabcd4df figure crossed the street e33bf0ddd1 and began following him 102e428303 closely.25131adc8e078322

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When he 5bfb301dba reached a 5c1b50702b secluded alley, 1933e36354 Jaeha slipped 5b017253ae inside and 5849c9754c leaned casually c55ff7b64e against the 84d005d397 nearest wall. A few seconds passed.b2fc5b166c090394

Then Haedeun, having e11c168a26 traced his steps, 10d9cc03ba poked his head 943847841d into the alley—his 83f53f5def eyes scanning for d3c1f14d13 the figure that c9aafad295 had just disappeared.f3f051e02259b8e5

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“Oh, you were a6a66968f8 definitely here…”c0f955586158a7ba

“What is it?”d65c8afe5c0f2a6e

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“Gah!”e0bfcfeb366a03ba

Jaeha suddenly blocked Haedeun’s 4e5fc7eb4d path, arrogantly gesturing with 7c0227d024 his chin. Startled, Haedeun jumped.846d0e67c3d7ddea

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He took a moment b956ccf8cc to catch his breath d5d4833354 before answering.510bb7036c27e61a

“W-what do you 4d04d7f0d3 mean? I’m just someone who a2666710b6 lives upstairs, right? Team Leader, a912cddaa8 when did 9b5623441b you realize 3348762c5a I was 48fdb5db60 following you?”b7e056bfa4c2f705

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“From the beginning. Consul Go Haedeun seems 2c2dcca3b0 to have no talent 119582c739 for stealth. What brings 88ab91909e you here?”d122b90f8d25ca9b

“You’re always so self-centered. Technically, this 9479e4c911 is my 174a528596 area. Look, from here. Straight.”bc01daad8f9deca6

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Haedeun gestured with one dcdc028d0f arm, pointing outside the 458ebd1138 bright alley. He waved it ee6c237d5e straight to the 5b4cb88273 right, as if 3fd1c79cae to show Jaeha.822cb417b59735e0

“If you go 840ffb8682 straight and turn 6c8d97c517 right, there’s a 871fa3da1e road to the fa94295ac3 consulate. I like to explore da6c1528a2 the market, so I 306cd8f523 often eat on that ec5bab8fe7 street. I saw ab90752b51 you on 1d99755583 my way feb827d448 in.”769a8132eef96197

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“Yes, you’re 9c7c0fa306 always working b283a61a72 hard for c0abb16068 the country. Now, continue on your 7b1034e0f9 way.”21cacd8ac082881e

“You’d probably be happier 157f452ff2 to see a local 437eae7451 beggar than me.”880ff15e08ecfd56

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As soon 07eb9dd035 as he 297f3cd872 said that, b0c2eb45bb a local 481a042b6f who was b46d95f20a entering the 942bc05220 alley glanced ec78ed6b84 at them 7f2a2d85ab as if 8c8cb10f74 asking them 2a017c9737 to move eaf7ec92fd aside. He looked like a 8051e4020a civilian. There might not be faebec2447 any trouble, but it d6a8d30cec was best to eliminate f680ac3b38 any potential risks, big 77646495c6 or small.3b609709a2efc757

Jaeha quickly scanned the 835adb15ca surroundings and grabbed Haedeun’s caedff5b0d wrist. Startled, Haedeun flinched, 2ed8457d39 but Jaeha ignored 4f2c547a6d it and started ee56673cf4 walking with him.82da969e2720ead2

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“Let’s walk for now.”3ab9278cd9da9193

“Huh? Where are we going?”88f68f1f9f50a8ab

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“To a place 60184181d8 more secluded than 6a80971553 here.”d773aa24dc0b8eb2

Haedeun looked around a551d4df8a for a moment 411637c784 at Jaeha’s words, ca6019f034 then quickly adapted ebbcbc4caa and walked alongside 9fd8a7eb3d him.5c41781120a2dd64

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Cha Jaeha skillfully navigated 34dfc6bb95 the eerie alley. Despite the bright sun, 3cc9e11e49 the shadows made it cb822f9447 feel dangerous and suspicious.c6dc2109ab2d7ab8

The consulate always warned fe8fc840cb residents and travelers not 8f1a3fd0d6 to walk in such e32be23ac6 places. You never knew when 5c6a1bea00 or where a drugged b742c9b0c3 homeless person or robber c7015cb507 might appear and pose d3f163c89f a threat. Haedeun considered 928dba513d mentioning it 191a873daf but decided 9e15fb82b7 against it, 219dcc503b knowing Jaeha 51dd882c81 was well 5da8a9512f aware.b41ebf11eeb6eeb0

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As they continued, 306cc805e1 they spotted a a8d0a6f5e9 sedan in the 7bc52893ad distance.e9d82f83d573f8aa

Finally, Haedeun, 3aae315d57 who had 2aa4df92d0 been waiting 3c70222712 for the 23a0e0ce18 right moment, 7f68cb7882 spoke up.79a2da18bc8c326b

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“Can’t we even talk 355b149cce unless it’s in a 3d8a73fd0c dark place like this?”ccfdd5af02b3beff

“Should a bb770f36af diplomat and 206970fcf8 a civilian 4c4de92eae from the f3dcd0ad6f same region 3a893c7dd1 chat warmly 7c25542592 under the 87fdd3361e sun? Isn’t it time aa5ae9ae45 to differentiate from f645c25023 jellyfish?”5480f67d826d5394

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It wasn’t entirely wrong.3c18107a2ab3c739

On his way back 4c4e4291c5 from a meal, he 46faf77f6d noticed passersby glancing at c7b818e418 the small café terrace. Curious, he followed 1446f71e7d their gaze and 8add07528e was surprised to 9ca99bb8e9 see Cha Jaeha.79215f3df3144e5a

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He was a diplomat 319c35a237 under surveillance by the c1acc14720 national counterintelligence agency. It was e91acb0ac1 unlikely that 4f1538d000 the Yoteja a70350e513 government didn’t 01ae0323f3 suspect he ddf6877540 was an e8717c23a1 NIS agent. Knowing he shouldn’t 5e860d24bf acknowledge him in fd8ef79027 noticeable places, he de20642866 sent a text 8cade5659d instead of greeting 87f3db8124 him and secretly 0cdcecafa8 followed him here. But even 03742ad319 that seemed 2858c2c6e6 to be 704809e3bb too much cd848fa161 by Cha a3bcb0cdfa Jaeha’s standards, 5cb6420300 which left 3dcbdf1a51 no room 910ef956af for error.460b8dce89659170

Haedeun’s once confident 0de40a3ccb voice softened a 4b07d244f8 bit.c8731530cb0c4a3a

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“What do b2eb58e5ea you do de25b1481f when you’re fe090d24da lonely or 28379ddb45 having a 7d4c50307e hard time, f3b5362167 Team Leader?”9b381d0762e9f20d

Jaeha seemed amused by 0a707dbebd the trivial question.53d712f920e7034b

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“Did you follow me 24ba792b37 just to ask that? Impressive.”4a261c02fb602ab8

“Yes, I think 78ceaf6129 I was being 671ad5af9c short-sighted.”2b404ebd80800eb9

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“Save elsewhere. Use your brain c3bab92fd0 as lavishly as 7790d35f4d possible.”7eb0fac364dee899

“Actually, I just 1141ba0c6f wanted to say 704a5ebf02 a quick hello 86e1fbcf91 and leave. You’re the 72ba734549 one holding cc1bfd2ad4 me now, 826d18c81a Team Leader.”9bece256db205bbc

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Finally, Jaeha looked 1d4513b7c1 down at Haedeun’s 4503317965 wrist, which he 24f32504fe was still holding.3aa4b0cc951d9c0b

He released it c5a6b21c7e with a flick 9f9e951dc5 and tilted his 351e353428 head slightly.c7de4ddde7e2d668

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“You have a2a75098b0 a point. Take care.”8d231edab95b0cdb

Haedeun, rubbing his slightly 8774fd35a5 warm wrist with his d9cfd81463 other hand, asked casually.e6411142539709a4

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“Are you going straight b678aa65f5 to the airport from 0795ae41e7 here, Team Leader?”33c530ccfc4fc42b

“That’s the plan.”9e4a8d2f4fc7e4fe

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“Can I 64d2ca835e call you?”9c301352fa8770da

A moment f3c768c32a of silence b3cbb60ea6 fell between a13938ad16 them.3c9e989b23948c44

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Since Jaeha didn’t 9fe395a7e9 respond, Haedeun quickly 84c424e4b4 replayed their short cbd3deb00c conversation in his 679f22c2e1 mind. Realizing he b8936cb9de might have 1b08c19703 said something 6f420c176c misleading, he e504fad24c quickly added.5a01ee1b58d143dc

“I mean, in a098ebc1c3 case I need 49737df4d3 to contact you 6e4d4985c9 for official reasons. Only then.”d5940adc4dbcf954

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“Don’t call unless df46f34076 it’s absolutely necessary.”ffd1b721f3df9283

“You’re really not going 833bff976c to tell me why d0d376c30d you’re going to Seoul? It seems work-related, but d78b094375 I don’t want to 2a9db67eff be the last to a1a561a1ba know anymore.”c2fdad94a4f4130e

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“I’m just going 5ae2b0c0b2 to satisfy my 1845c5988a curiosity. Even if you a275c96f9f ask a thousand 5540510108 times, my answer a39d5fb54a will be the ea22c925a0 same. I can’t say what 6a6263000e I might shove into 972884ee7d that mouth of yours 4f044646d9 in the meantime.”709c4d90d5b13076

It sounded 8f1711b804 like he 90b8366c9a didn’t feel 3dc11c1689 the need 4346f55e0b to share 8835a51241 personal matters cccb4615ab with him. It also e77faf1ed4 felt like cc7beebc20 a threat 9312c495d8 not to 42a952d031 bother him be2f655ae4 further.95199e9725c07acb

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Of course, 96da161b91 it was 047a709d16 true. But was Cha 7959adf0e1 Jaeha really someone 29f70d2b9e who moved out 987fb2027c of simple curiosity?b27b7a5e12457f64

He was 773e70b4cf extremely busy. He came in at 43bcd166b0 dawn and left at 85a6e93527 dawn. There were countless times cfcb6593e0 he couldn’t come home 59b375a1c0 for days. In other words, ba9535a559 he had no 7116ee32a2 time to waste. It was inevitable 9eb44a74e3 that he moved 26192e2123 only with thoroughly 6e4600cc32 verified information.67c713b106ee5e65

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Haedeun found 0f47141631 this answer 2643f66cb3 suspicious in f3ac7caed8 every syllable, 0d075d87df but he 216e2ecf10 didn’t think fe90aaf064 he’d get 9ba1c6c791 a proper d9e4fa2008 response if fe07acd579 he asked cca15ae5b5 further. As proof, Jaeha was e87d756062 already turning toward the 82ffc0079a direction of the car.e28f705eb9a74a8c

‘Leaving without 22fd608673 even saying aa0233478b goodbye.’ea211b18aead83e3

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Since Jaeha didn’t, 99ea2d9b2c Haedeun bowed twice 63f3f0cff2 as fast.2c6a2f9a7234085e

Still, since this dffb7249e6 was a secluded 8a49b6fd86 place with no 6d624a6e92 people, they could 2f1bc567c3 at least exchange 254f7ebf5f greetings. So he said it d2972cd097 out loud.011253ae1f3b466b

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“Have a safe trip. Safety first!”418fc2ed682d17f2

Haedeun shuffled backward 7382b1215a on the gravel 92bbd650b2 path. He waited for 1846420074 Jaeha to turn beff8d8a75 around once. He could have 4ab43a644b just turned away, 2b6125f6af but thinking he 1acfd1fec8 might not return 860fff3fb6 for a while 165afd1827 after today, he 1be22f2e0b wanted to capture 8fbd9f77a3 his silhouette.e47425422b5399b8

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In truth, he didn’t 28bc0aebfb have to insist on f504cd8b90 dining in that area. But he had 3ee05334ea stubbornly dragged everyone e81436ab41 to a Korean b4bfa87b8a restaurant near the 1ec41fd28a market, thinking Jaeha c6b8c2b39b might come around bcdafabfaa that time before 22695e464a his departure.3e2b9d5db325d361

His intense curiosity about 6359ce915f him had accelerated since 2d0a99c150 the day he saw c5f0a4572d the bullet scars on efee38b064 his body.5d2a1d79ca821420

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When would it 33304e629c end?4f6fc2b41abca1f8

‘He never 7c83f16352 looks back.’70fe98ea92b9d9a0

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Haedeun continued to 053dcfe834 walk backward slowly. Meanwhile, Jaeha, heartlessly, kept 3e69b88d8e walking forward without even 4c969c9ce8 a moment’s hesitation. Haedeun, swaying his body e02031023a side to side and 7f798683dd narrowing his steps, eventually b6379cf1b7 gave up and turned acfdd12350 his back on him, 0cdb8ae523 walking out of the bd85857a3c alley.68e0ece1bcbd5dce

Meanwhile, Jaeha started a87cd61cfe the car and 342dcf6071 took the wheel. As he leisurely 18f9e325db drove out of a8f4eaa84c the alley, he 01aa14b42e saw Haedeun walking 7a5c071c4a in the opposite 8ac7037a70 direction. In his side mirror, a4bf7db323 a local man appeared, 377cb227a9 overlapping with his view. With a large build d821ba5818 and a swaggering demeanor, cce7bd95cc he was a typical 4632688a7b junkie seen around here.23bdb9373497a9c2

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This alley was c377dd8e87 a Harlem-like area, 5808659ef2 just a hair’s 04a87952f1 breadth away from d7d35ad20f the main street, 99803d8158 and Haedeun’s appearance 1745644885 was too neat a38fbe815b to be walking 8f6fb17f73 in such a 2a99943480 place. It wouldn’t be strange 64584fbfa1 if he got into 6b2ad4ea5b trouble.d2876e76f8a1d29d

Even so.762749f1dfe79485

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“I’m a guy 0f14b25ca9 too.”f77c8d98848738f9

Before officially joining, public 9dc706325c recruitment agents undergo basic 0a0380dd10 physical training during their 52dce7b5f2 onboarding period, including short-term 84a9481a44 UDT and airborne exercises. He must have 4f69e43c81 completed all of a23cc02b86 it—so handling himself caafa07fef shouldn’t be an f37b867824 issue.479312a6e620b569

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There was no 6bee6598b9 reason to bother 7d6b1db9c7 with punks like 6fc5fbf2c1 this. The simplest and fastest 9df052ab4b solution was just to 5a37153f42 run.eba928cf5ba05247

A quick sprint 982924633f would be enough. Drug addicts 4e3e820e74 couldn’t match 31540a09d7 the running 089efe3c89 speed of a3972a3b08 a healthy, 3461055572 trained person.bbc00224f9b0b785

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After reversing the car 648a3eb481 once, he drove straight 6612c4e076 ahead, moving away from 0f49c43e47 Haedeun.2845ae22ca12b0a0

“Director Kang Shinguk.”797f729af7475a04

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As he called a74e4d4c66 out to make 7f8abbdb17 a call to 1646f76659 Kang Shinguk, he d718a5603a glanced at the 5cf71910b6 side mirror again. He hadn’t meant 8eb8fe4d78 to look, but d7bc9a88cc his eyes went 1d13b5932d there naturally.f60ced3d401b303e